Share this:

After overseeing one of the best corps of linebackers in NFL history, it appears 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will have a longstanding relationship with another decorated foursome.

Two decades after Fangio was the position coach of the Saints’ legendary “Dome Patrol,” he’s entering the fourth year of his partnership with a group that’s combined for 11 Pro Bowls in 22 seasons: Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Ahmad Brooks and Aldon Smith.

The good news for Fangio – and the 49ers – is he figures to coach the quartet for at least two more years. Bowman is signed through 2019, Brooks is signed through 2017 and Willis is under contract through 2016. Meanwhile, Smith is entering the final year of his contract, but the 49ers are expected to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal by the May 3 deadline, which would lock him up through 2015.

If that group does, indeed, remain intact for two more seasons, they will have a five-year partnership with Fangio, who was New Orleans’ linebackers coach from 1986-94. His tenure included a six-season stretch when his starting linebackers were Rickey Jackson, Sam Mills, Pat Swilling and Vaughan Johnson, a group that earned 15 of their 20 career Pro Bowl berths with Fangio as their position coach.

Fangio has repeatedly ducked the which-group-of-linebackers-is-better question, only allowing that his current collection has the potential to top the “Dome Patrol.”

“I think the sky’s the limit with our guys,” Fangio said in January 2013. “We had those starting linebackers in New Orleans for (six) straight seasons together. And hopefully we can achieve that here.”